CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 63: TAKING OFFICE IN JERUSALEM

Watched Losa leave.

Salah, the wandering prince with strong claims to Syria and Aleppo, remarked with some emotion: "Abdullah, you are very right, he is indeed a unique person—he even greeted me using our customs just now."

"This is completely different from the barbaric and rude Frankish nobles I’ve met before who don’t know manners."

Abdullah wholeheartedly agreed.

"When I first met him, he was just a Knight, but now he has been promoted to Baron and valued by King Baldwin. In my opinion, it won’t be long before he becomes a significant figure in the Holy City."

"It seems it is very necessary to maintain a good relationship with him."

At this moment, an attendant tiptoed into the room and whispered into Salah’s ear.

"What?"

"I understand."

Salah’s expression changed slightly, looking somewhat complex: "No, Abdullah, I just received news that King Baldwin has appointed him as the Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order."

"He is already a big figure in this city."

Abdullah’s face showed astonishment: "This is... unbelievable."

"It seems that King Baldwin values Losa more than we imagined."

Salah mused: "Abdullah, we should be more generous to friends. In addition to sending him ten warhorses, let’s send five maids as well."

"Maids?"

Abdullah hesitated.

Salah immediately noticed his hesitation, and said seriously: "Real maids, not those specially trained to kill their masters in bed."

Only then did Abdullah accept the task gladly.

Salah couldn’t help but laugh: "Abdullah, you are good at choosing friends, and so is Losa."

...

Leaving the inn.

Furinjira grumbled softly with some dissatisfaction: "Why not take the maids? I heard these Fire Worship nobles train maids who are very good at serving."

"If you don’t use them yourself, you can give them to me."

"Back in the Royal Court, at least three maids bathed and dressed me, three maids served me with makeup and decoration, three maids managed my meals and accommodations..."

Losa said, frowning: "Nonsense, your palace in the Royal Court was as cold as a large coffin, where were there living people to serve you?"

Furinjira covered her mouth, feeling awkward as if her exaggeration had been exposed: "You know that?"

"I understand you more than you think."

Losa sighed: "But don’t worry, whether it’s maids or luxurious palaces, we’ll have them eventually, but for now, we must be frugal."

"Always promising!"

"I’m serious."

Losa felt a bit helpless.

For a noble, having maids is indeed necessary.

Even if not for personal use, there are always occasions for social interactions and entertaining guests.

One cannot host a banquet and have clumsy soldiers serve, right?

But now is not the time to enjoy, and he doesn’t plan to spend limited funds on hiring maids.

Everything that follows must give way to expanding military power.

The ten warhorses promised by Salah will soon be sent to Constant Manor; Losa does not plan to send them back to Jorgelisburg, intending to keep them as reserve horses for the Winged Cavalry.

Jorgelisburg’s horses for training the Winged Cavalry are sufficient.

Some were seized from desert bandits, and others were bought from the horse market in the Earl’s Domain of Jordan.

Asking Salah for Abdullah was more of a test of their relationship, but in fact, he was genuinely envious of Abdullah and his Kurdish Cavalry.

They were a very elite cavalry unit, skilled in archery and horseback, no less than the elite Mamluks of the Ayyubid Kingdom.

Even with equal numbers, even if his Winged Cavalry could win, it would only be a pyrrhic victory.

But unfortunately, these two are probably currently in a harmonious phase.

As a third party, he really couldn’t find a way in.

...

Constant Manor.

After being gone for only two weeks, the manor was already covered in dust, and thirteen Winged Cavalry members and nine Axe Guards, including Laine, had begun cleaning.

They would have to live here for quite some time.

With Prajna’s help, Losa removed his armor and stood on the balcony of the manor’s main building, looking at the busy people below with some concern.

The complicated situation in the Holy Land, along with King Baldwin IV’s admiration and favor, all weighed heavily on him.

No prominent figure of this era was easy to deal with.

Even those seemingly stupid and greedy Crusader nobles actually harbored their own calculations.

If he hadn’t had the advantage of inheriting the original owner’s identity and abilities, as a mere civilian crossing into this world, he would have been knocked off his horse in one round by the Lords Knight.

He never thought he really had the talent to rival Saladin; the forces under his command, facing the impending war, were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

However, if he could completely bring the Royal Knight Order under his control and use it well, this force could slightly influence the course of a war.

"Losa."

A cool female voice sounded behind him.

Prajna came to his side, this woman whose height was not much shorter than his, reached out and smoothed Losa’s furrowed brow.

The cold touch made Losa feel the heat within him dissipate entirely.

"You know, some people, when alone, can forge ahead without hesitation, but when they have more, they always worry and fret."

Losa immediately realized this was about him.

He showed a wry smile: "Indeed, it’s very foolish."

"But I always feel that now I bear the expectations of many people, and if I mess things up, I will disappoint them."

He pointed to the busy people below: "Plus their loyalty and lives, one wrong decision and they could all perish."

Prajna lowered her eyes slightly, saying softly: "The game of power is not child’s play; not only they will die, but you will also die. Without this realization, it won’t work."

Losa was slightly stunned, then smiled: "Yes."

"Since sitting at the gambling table, there’s no room for hesitation."

Losa composed himself: "I was overthinking it, I need to go to the palace this afternoon, will you and Furinjira accompany me or stay at home?"

"I’ll definitely go with you, but as for that little vampire, I think she’d prefer to stay in the manor and do what she wants to do."

"Big dummy, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Furinjira’s sharp voice rang out: "I want to accompany the Lord as well!"

Losa’s face showed a smile: "Alright, then come with me, as long as you don’t mind being bored."

...

The Jerusalem Royal Palace is a building with a prominent Eastern influence, yet very Western in style.

The Fire Worship civilization, Jewish civilization, Empire—or rather Greek Civilization, and Frankish Civilization, are perfectly integrated together.

Losa walked in the palace garden, with Prajna and others following behind.

In the center of the path paved with gray stones was a fountain.

Spring water circled the garden, trickling gently.

Losa washed his hands in the fountain, feeling the refreshing coolness, and simply splashed some water on his face: "Ah, this feels good."

The working environment is nice; the coming days shouldn’t be unbearable.

Soldiers of the Royal Knight Order, clad in red and white hooded shirts and wearing pot lid helmets and spine helmets, were stationed in various corners.

"Grand Master!"

The soldiers encountered along the way saluted one after another.

"Take me to your station and have the Inspector and Treasurer come to see me."

Losa instructed.